Vehicle-tire.



No. 632,378. Patented se 'L 5, I899.

T. n. STEWART.

VEHICLE TIRE.

(Application md Feb. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Nrrn rates rrrcn.

THOMAS D. STEl/VART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE IIEYERSTORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VEHICLE-TIRE.

.SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,378, datedSeptember 5, 1899.

Application filed February 8, 1899.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. STEWART, of Chicago, in the county 'ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle-Tires, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to vehicle-tires, and more particularly to thatclass of rubber tires adapted for use on the wheels of buggies,carriages, cabs, and the like, and has for its object to provide meanswhereby tires of this description may be firmlyand effectively held inposition upon the rims of these wheels.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel features, which Iwill now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectionthrough a por-. tion of a tire and rim embodying my invention in oneform. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating amodified form of my invention; Fig. 4, a similar view illustratinganother modification; Fig. 5, a similar view showing yet anothermodified form. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the rubber tire,the fastening device being removed; and Fig. 7, a perspective view of aportion of the fastening device detached.

In said drawings,10 indicates the tire proper, which is made of rubber,having, preferably, the shape shown, its extreme outer portion 11 beingcurved in the arc of a circle and the remaining part of the outerportion having inwardly-diverging side walls 12, while the inner portionof the tire, which is adapted to lie within the channel of the rim,hasinwardlyconverging side walls 13 and a flat bottom 14, the said bottomportion and inner side walls 13 being reinforced by a strip of canvas orother suitable strengthening material 15. In connection with this tire Iemploy a metallic rim 16, having outwardly-diverging lateral flanges 17,forming a groove or channel, with the shape of which the inner portionof the tire 10 conforms and in which said tire fits.

I employ in connection with the rubber tire and metallicrim aretaining-strip 18, which consists of a flat metallic band or ribbonSerial No. 704,956. (No model.)

provided with beaded edges 19 and a plurality of central projections 20,terminating in shoulders 21. This band or ribbon may be made of anysuitable material, but is preferably constructed of soft steel, whichmay be rolled to the desired shape, and which is tempered after rolling.The central projections 20 may be readily pressed up out of the body ofthe ribbon or strip during the process of rolling, and, if desired, thestrip may be given a transverse curvature, as indicated in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. The beads 19 may lie entirely upon on side of the body of thestrip 18, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings, or they maybe centrally located rela tively to the central plane of the body of thestrip, as shown in Fig. 3.

The rubber tire is provided with a continuous opening or passage22,extending throughout its body and conforming in shape to the shape ofthe strip 18. This opening is preferably molded in the tire and hasterminal enlargements 23 to receive the beaded edges 19 of the strip anda central groove or channel 24, which is continuous, and which isadapted to receive the projections 20 of the strip or ribbon.

The band or strip 18 may be applied to the tire, with its projections 20directed inward toward the center of the wheel, and in practice I preferthis arrangement, which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 of thedrawings; but I also contemplate applying the band to the tire in thereversed position, as shown in Fig. 4, with its projections directedoutwardly or away from the center of the wheel. It will be understood,of course, that the opening 22 in the tire is shaped to conform to theparticular mode of application of the band 18.

In practice the strip 18 is inserted in the tire 10 by passing itthrough the, opening 22 therein, and the rubber is then compressed uponthe said strip so as to leave the ends thereof exposed, whereupon theymay be joined in any suitable manner-as, for instance, by brazing,welding, riveting, or by means of special connecting devices. Thistension the rubber will be forced up into the spaces between theprojections of the strip, and byits engagement with the shoulders 21 ofsaid projections will prevent creeping or relative movement of the tireand strip. The band or ribbon shape of the strip gives a broad flatbearing of the retaining device upon the tire, which tends to hold thislatter more firmly seated in the rim, while the enlarged or beaded edgesof the strip prevent cutting at the points where said edges come intocontact with the rubber of the tire. The converging side flanges of therim, acting upon the correspondingly-shaped inner portion of the rubbertire, serve to compress the rubber at its innermost portion adjacent tothe bot-' tom of the rim, and thereby insure the engagement of therubber with the shoulders 21 of the projections 20.

Various modifications of the structural details maybe made withoutdeparting from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do notwish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise constructionhereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

I claim--- 1. The combination, with a channeled metallic rim, of arubber tire fitting within said rim and provided with an aperture orpassage through its interior, and a retaining-strip consisting of a flatmetallic band or ribbon provided with beaded edges and a plurality ofcentral projections terminating in transverse shoulders, saidretaining-strip passing through the aperture or passage in the rubbertire, and said aperture or passage being provided with lateralenlargements to receive the beads of the strip, and a continuous centralchannel or groove to receive the projections thereof, substantially asdescribed.

2. The c0mbination,with a metallic rim having outwardly-divergingflanges, of a rubber tire having a correspondingly-shaped inner portionto fit said channel, and a continuous aperture or passage therethroughhaving lateral enlargements and an inwardly-directed central groove orchannel, and a retainingstrip consisting of a flat metallic band orribbon having beaded lateral edges and a plurality of inwardly-directedcentral projections terminating in transverse shoulders, said re-'taining-strip passing entirely through the passage or aperture in thetire and having its ends connected, substantially as described.

THOMAS D. STENVART.

NVi tnesses:

FREDERICK O. Goonwm, IRVINE MILLER.

